Former AFL star Brian Lake might apologise to secure a quick exit from a Japanese jail as new details emerge about the lead up to his arrest.
The three-time Hawthorn champion has been detained in Osaka since Sunday (AEST) over an alleged bar scuffle after winning an AFL Asia tournament playing for the Indonesian Volcanoes.
Lake's coach Rick Olarenshaw, who coaxed the Norm Smith medallist into playing in the overseas competition, said there were hopes the 36-year-old would be released before the weekend.
"They were going to meditate yesterday," the former Essendon wingman told 3AW on Thursday.
"Perhaps an apology will be given and then they were hoping that Brian would be released by the latest (on) Friday."
The team lost track of the 251-gamer after a sportsman's night, with Olarenshaw initially dismissing Lake's absence the next morning as "sleeping off his hangover" before hearing of his arrest.
"Details are very vague," he said.
"We don't know whether it was a push and shove, a verbal argument or a punch.
"He must have been in some sort of argument or scuffle with a local Japanese man."
Lake can be held for 23 days without charge under the same Japanese law Wallabies great George Smith and Australian former motorcycle world champion Wayne Gardner were recently detained.
Lake's imposing figure may have contributed to his arrest, Olarenshaw added.
"I guess when you're out in Osaka and in Japan, things are so strict. They frown on J-walking," he said.
"It only takes a (195cm) bloke to have a bit of an argument with someone and it could be seen as pretty serious."
Olarenshaw said he was concerned for Lake's safety inside prison. He echoed former Western Bulldogs teammate Adam Cooney's view that the part-time AFL media presenter was dealing with personal issues.
"He's going through a fair bit mentally," Olerenshaw said.
"That's why he came to Bali just for a bit of a break, and then we talked him into coming to Osaka."
Lake played 251 AFL games, including 197 for the Western Bulldogs before he switched to Hawthorn to snare three flags and retire in 2015.
He has recently been in Fiji, filming for Network Ten's reality TV show, Australian Survivor.
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